Review: Jersey Boys, Theatre Royal, Glasgow

by David Oliver

At the Theatre Royal, you can get Four Seasons in less than three hours and it is pretty special.

Jersey Boys has signed up to a 30-date stint at the top of Hope Street bringing the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from the rough streets of 1930s New Jersey, to Glasgow.

Matt Corner hits the high notes as Valli - and that’s with an ‘i’ because as those who go will find out, you don’t end a word with a ‘y’ because it can’t tell if it’s a vowel or a consonant.

Likewise we follow a young Frankie from his days starting as a cabaret singer, hitting top of the charts, and the debts and drama that followed. All carried off in broad north-east American accents - and authentic language, so it’s not for sensitive ears, but the music more than makes up for any offence caused..

Judy Murray took in the show last week, (or should that be, Judi Murrai?) alongside Susan Boyle in the audience and ‘Oh What a Night’ they had. The audience was on their feet dancing by the end having checked of the list of hit after hit by Vall from Sherry Baby, Beggin’, to Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.

Four seasons in three hours. It might be rainy and chilly season at the moment, but there’s a bright outlook for those who’ve already made the trip to Jersey Boys, which runs until January 3. As the songs suggest, you can’t take your eyes off it, and your eyes will adore it, from the singing under the streetlamp start to the finish in the rock and roll hall of fame.

And thankfully, we haven’t finished on the penultimate letter in the alphabet either. Frankie’s first wife will be happy.